2001 Pennsylvania 500
# 2001 Pennsylvania 500

The 2001 Pennsylvania 500 presented by Pep Boys was the 20th stock car race of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series and the 29th iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, July 29, 2001, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, at Pocono Raceway, a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) triangular permanent course. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. In the final laps of the race, Bobby Labonte, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would pass eventual second-place driver, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win his 17th career NASCAR Winston Cup Series win and his first of the season. To fill out the podium, Tony Stewart, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would finish third.

## Background

The race was held at Pocono Raceway, which is a three-turn superspeedway located in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The track hosts two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, as well as one Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series event. Until 2019, the track also hosted an IndyCar Series race.

Pocono Raceway is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation. It is operated by the Igdalsky siblings Brandon, Nicholas, and sister Ashley, and cousins Joseph IV and Chase Mattioli, all of whom are third-generation members of the family-owned Mattco Inc, started by Joseph II and Rose Mattioli.

Outside of the NASCAR races, the track is used throughout the year by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and motorcycle clubs as well as racing schools and an IndyCar race. The triangular oval also has three separate infield sections of racetrack – North Course, East Course and South Course. Each of these infield sections use a separate portion of the tri-oval to complete the track. During regular non-race weekends, multiple clubs can use the track by running on different infield sections. Also some of the infield sections can be run in either direction, or multiple infield sections can be put together – such as running the North Course and the South Course and using the tri-oval to connect the two.

### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.

| # | Driver | Team | Make | Sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Pennzoil |
| 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Cingular Wireless, Special Olympics |
| 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | Miller Lite |
| 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kodak |
| 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | Kellogg's |
| 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | Viagra |
| 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | NationsRent |
| 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | Budweiser |
| 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | Valvoline |
| 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | RedCell, Ralphs |
| 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | Mobil 1 |
| 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | Conseco |
| 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | NAPA Auto Parts |
| 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | DeWalt |
| 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | Interstate Batteries, MBNA |
| 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | Dodge |
| 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | The Home Depot |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | Motorcraft |
| 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Caterpillar |
| 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | DuPont |
| 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | UAW, Delphi |
| 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart |
| 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | Sauer's, Duke's Mayonnaise |
| 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | Texaco, Havoline |
| 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | GM Goodwrench |
| 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | Lowe's |
| 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | Tide |
| 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Oakwood Homes |
| 36 | Ken Schrader | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | M&M's |
| 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | Original Coors |
| 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Cheerios |
| 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Georgia-Pacific Sparkle |
| 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | Sprint PCS |
| 49 | Andy Hillenburg | BAM Racing | Pontiac | BAM Racing |
| 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | Square D |
| 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | Kmart Blue Light Special |
| 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | Jasper Engines & Transmissions |
| 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | Mansion Motorsports |
| 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | UPS |
| 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | Hills Bros. Coffee |
| 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | Kodiak |
| 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | Amoco Ultimate |
| 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | Rubbermaid, Sharpie |
| 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | Citgo Supergard |
| Official entry list |||||

## Practice

### First practice

The first practice session was held on Friday, July 27, at 11:30 AM EST. The session would last for two hours and 30 minutes. Ricky Rudd, driving for Robert Yates Racing, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 53.163 and an average speed of 169.291 miles per hour (272.447 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 53.163 | 169.291 |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.213 | 169.068 |
| 3 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 53.318 | 168.799 |
| Full first practice results |||||||

### Second practice

The second practice session was held on Saturday, July 28, at 10:45 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.341 and an average speed of 165.621 miles per hour (266.541 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.341 | 165.621 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.454 | 165.277 |
| 3 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 54.680 | 164.594 |
| Full second practice results |||||||

### Third and final practice

The final practice session, sometimes referred to as Happy Hour, was held on Saturday, June 16, at 12:15 AM EST. The session would last for 45 minutes. Jeff Gordon, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 54.859 and an average speed of 164.057 miles per hour (264.024 km/h).

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.859 | 164.057 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.991 | 163.663 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 55.002 | 163.630 |
| Full Happy Hour practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Qualifying was held on Friday, July 27, at 3:00 PM EST. Each driver would have two laps to set a fastest time; the fastest of the two would count as their official qualifying lap. Positions 1-36 would be decided on time, while positions 37-43 would be based on provisionals. Six spots are awarded by the use of provisionals based on owner's points. The seventh is awarded to a past champion who has not otherwise qualified for the race. If no past champ needs the provisional, the next team in the owner points will be awarded a provisional.

Todd Bodine, driving for Haas-Carter Motorsports, would win the pole, setting a time of 52.840 and an average speed of 170.325 miles per hour (274.112 km/h).

Two drivers would fail to qualify: Andy Hillenburg and Carl Long.

### Full qualifying results

| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 52.840 | 170.325 |
| 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 52.856 | 170.274 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.059 | 169.622 |
| 4 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.100 | 162.492 |
| 5 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.101 | 169.488 |
| 6 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 53.163 | 169.291 |
| 7 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 53.200 | 169.173 |
| 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.203 | 169.163 |
| 9 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 53.291 | 168.884 |
| 10 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 53.303 | 168.846 |
| 11 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 53.327 | 168.770 |
| 12 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.329 | 168.764 |
| 13 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 53.429 | 168.448 |
| 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 53.439 | 168.416 |
| 15 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 53.466 | 168.331 |
| 16 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 53.483 | 168.278 |
| 17 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 53.488 | 168.262 |
| 18 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.491 | 168.253 |
| 19 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 53.536 | 168.111 |
| 20 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 53.567 | 168.014 |
| 21 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 53.579 | 167.976 |
| 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 53.586 | 167.954 |
| 23 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 53.593 | 167.932 |
| 24 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 53.602 | 167.904 |
| 25 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 53.699 | 167.601 |
| 26 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 53.757 | 167.420 |
| 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 53.758 | 167.417 |
| 28 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 53.892 | 167.001 |
| 29 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 53.896 | 166.988 |
| 30 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 53.946 | 166.833 |
| 31 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 53.965 | 166.775 |
| 32 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 53.979 | 166.731 |
| 33 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 54.021 | 166.602 |
| 34 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 54.041 | 166.540 |
| 35 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 54.200 | 166.052 |
| 36 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 54.273 | 165.828 |
| Provisionals |||||||
| 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 54.754 | 164.372 |
| 38 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 54.308 | 165.721 |
| 39 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.366 | 165.545 |
| 40 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 54.613 | 164.796 |
| 41 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 54.476 | 165.210 |
| 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 54.452 | 165.283 |
| 43 | 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 54.433 | 165.341 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||
| 44 | 49 | Andy Hillenburg | BAM Racing | Pontiac | 54.877 | 164.003 |
| 45 | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | 55.640 | 161.754 |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race results

| Fin | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts | Winnings |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | 18 | Bobby Labonte | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 4 | running | 180 | $189,427 |
| 2 | 12 | 8 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 31 | running | 175 | $119,923 |
| 3 | 13 | 20 | Tony Stewart | Joe Gibbs Racing | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 165 | $91,800 |
| 4 | 14 | 9 | Bill Elliott | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 200 | 1 | running | 165 | $90,948 |
| 5 | 9 | 10 | Johnny Benson Jr. | MBV Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 8 | running | 160 | $68,895 |
| 6 | 22 | 2 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing South | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 150 | $88,555 |
| 7 | 3 | 6 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 4 | running | 151 | $86,116 |
| 8 | 8 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 121 | running | 152 | $96,992 |
| 9 | 16 | 77 | Robert Pressley | Jasper Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 138 | $63,025 |
| 10 | 20 | 32 | Ricky Craven | PPI Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 134 | $50,465 |
| 11 | 2 | 28 | Ricky Rudd | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 200 | 23 | running | 135 | $73,612 |
| 12 | 7 | 26 | Jimmy Spencer | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 200 | 1 | running | 132 | $58,435 |
| 13 | 38 | 1 | Steve Park | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 124 | $65,908 |
| 14 | 24 | 17 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 200 | 3 | running | 126 | $46,840 |
| 15 | 5 | 19 | Casey Atwood (R) | Evernham Motorsports | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 118 | $41,915 |
| 16 | 10 | 40 | Sterling Marlin | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 115 | $54,776 |
| 17 | 4 | 36 | Ken Schrader | MB2 Motorsports | Pontiac | 200 | 0 | running | 112 | $50,405 |
| 18 | 25 | 12 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing South | Ford | 200 | 0 | running | 109 | $76,799 |
| 19 | 23 | 15 | Michael Waltrip | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 106 | $43,765 |
| 20 | 6 | 29 | Kevin Harvick (R) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 | running | 103 | $83,667 |
| 21 | 21 | 01 | Jason Leffler (R) | Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 100 | $48,090 |
| 22 | 15 | 93 | Dave Blaney | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 200 | 0 | running | 97 | $36,415 |
| 23 | 26 | 33 | Joe Nemechek | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 94 | $64,360 |
| 24 | 39 | 25 | Jerry Nadeau | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 199 | 0 | running | 91 | $43,765 |
| 25 | 32 | 7 | Mike Wallace | Ultra Motorsports | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 88 | $43,940 |
| 26 | 33 | 21 | Elliott Sadler | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 198 | 0 | running | 85 | $53,390 |
| 27 | 28 | 43 | John Andretti | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 198 | 0 | running | 82 | $70,267 |
| 28 | 36 | 31 | Robby Gordon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 198 | 0 | running | 79 | $64,414 |
| 29 | 29 | 55 | Bobby Hamilton | Andy Petree Racing | Chevrolet | 197 | 0 | running | 76 | $39,915 |
| 30 | 31 | 14 | Ron Hornaday Jr. (R) | A. J. Foyt Enterprises | Pontiac | 197 | 0 | running | 73 | $31,765 |
| 31 | 42 | 45 | Kyle Petty | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 196 | 0 | running | 70 | $32,115 |
| 32 | 17 | 92 | Stacy Compton | Melling Racing | Dodge | 195 | 0 | running | 67 | $31,465 |
| 33 | 27 | 11 | Brett Bodine | Brett Bodine Racing | Ford | 194 | 0 | running | 64 | $31,265 |
| 34 | 40 | 5 | Terry Labonte | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 192 | 0 | running | 61 | $63,770 |
| 35 | 43 | 27 | Rick Mast | Eel River Racing | Pontiac | 192 | 0 | running | 58 | $30,440 |
| 36 | 18 | 99 | Jeff Burton | Roush Racing | Ford | 188 | 1 | running | 60 | $76,061 |
| 37 | 35 | 97 | Kurt Busch (R) | Roush Racing | Ford | 187 | 0 | running | 52 | $38,225 |
| 38 | 34 | 22 | Ward Burton | Bill Davis Racing | Dodge | 184 | 0 | crash | 49 | $63,310 |
| 39 | 41 | 44 | Buckshot Jones | Petty Enterprises | Dodge | 183 | 0 | running | 46 | $38,125 |
| 40 | 30 | 90 | Hut Stricklin | Donlavey Racing | Ford | 177 | 0 | running | 43 | $30,050 |
| 41 | 37 | 88 | Dale Jarrett | Robert Yates Racing | Ford | 152 | 1 | crash | 45 | $75,027 |
| 42 | 19 | 4 | Kevin Lepage | Morgan–McClure Motorsports | Chevrolet | 148 | 0 | crash | 37 | $29,950 |
| 43 | 1 | 66 | Todd Bodine | Haas-Carter Motorsports | Ford | 128 | 2 | handling | 39 | $37,876 |
| Failed to qualify |||||||||||
| 44 | | 49 | Andy Hillenburg | BAM Racing | Pontiac | | | | | |
| 45 | | 85 | Carl Long | Mansion Motorsports | Ford | | | | | |
| Official race results |||||||||||
